Murderer

CHAPTER 41 - Man Owner of Red Lancer (Revised)

Anto's small hand tightly grasped Citra's hand. His chest was so full, it was so crowded because he was happy. All his life, Anto never dreamed of having a family like this.

“Welcome home, Anto.” The image turned to look towards the boy, now he was no longer a bum. Anto was officially adopted by Citra's parents.

The boy tightly hugged the policeman who had become his helper goddess. His gaze turned to Adi and Rita. “Thank you, Mr. Adi, Ms. Rita.”

The smiles of the two of them expands to see the innocent happiness on Anto's face.

The image opened the door and let Anto burst into the house that he never dared to dream of. Both Citra, Adi and Rita can only shake their heads when they see Anto wandering around the house while amazed. Sometimes he looked at Citra with a shy look because he felt very hick.

The sound of television was heard from the family room. Adi repeatedly changed television channels because all media were reporting about politics and also the case that was being handled by Citra.

“People of Manggala are feeling insecure. After a serial murder involving two police officers, the city of Manggala is facing a cold-blooded murderous terror again. The safety of the population is threatened. Where are the police officers?” A criminal news reporter covered his coverage with a sentence that hit the police.

Both print and electronic media are criticizing the police. Especially since the late Faisal and Banyu Aji known as the perpetrators of serial murder. Citra finishes her lunch and will return to the office when Christian comes to her house.

The man's eyes squinted when he saw Anto. He looked at the two Citra parents questioningly. “This child ...”

Rita held onto the shoulder of Anto who only dared to peek over the back of Citra. “It's Anto, Antonius Hutabarat. Our adopted son, we just adopted from the orphanage at the request of Citra.”

Seeing Christian, the boy shriveled and clutched his foster brother's shirt. He refused to shake hands with the man.

Anto's strange behavior, it triggered Citra's suspicion, so she turned around and crouched down before this boy who kept his head down. Both of Citra's hands held Anto's shoulders. “That brother friend, his name is Kak Christian, are you afraid of Kak Christian?” He asked as he glanced suspiciously at the man who was actually very annoying.

Anto was silent, but then he whispered something to Citra that made himself stunned. “Ma, Pa, I'm back at the office first. Anto come with me.” He took Anto's hand and invited her along with him.

On the way, Citra again curious about what Anto whispered to him earlier. “You've seen that brother where?” The image asked without taking the eyes off the streets.

“In the vicinity of the container where I, Miss Maryam and friends were held captive.” This boy replied in a soft tone, his finger playing the tip of the shirt he was wearing.

Citra's forehead is wrinkled, what is Christian there for? Whereas when their team came there, the place was already empty. It seems they knew that if the police had smelled their tracks, they could only find medical devices and some fake harbor uniforms. Other than that, they found no evidence at all.

The image just kept asking inwardly. Did he go there as a prosecutor? Or does he have something to do with this case? So if he's in touch, then what makes homeless people victims?

“Sister, Brother Citra! Watch out brother!” He woke up when he heard Anto's scream. But late, the rush hit the back of a red lancer that stopped because of a red light.

He immediately got out of the car in a panic, the owner of the lancer was also seen getting off the car. At first glance Citra felt familiar with the man who drove the red sedan car. He looked at Citra with anger.

“Aarghh! Shit!” The man curses when he sees the bumper of the car behind him dented. “You can drive no!?”

The image of cupping a hand on his chest was full of regret. When he saw the condition of the back of Lancer, he understood if the owner was angry. He pulled out a business card and he gave it to the man who owned the sedan.

“Cih, police! You deserve to be on the streets!” He insinuated Citra harshly after reading the business card.

When he turned his back on the man, there was a strange sensation that he felt. That person was like no stranger to him. Men with a body not too high but have a muscular stock, the age of the man may be the same as his papa.

His face was full of sideburns that were already partially whitened and looked unkempt. From the shape of the face, the man was of ethnic Chinese descent. Why does he feel so familiar with that person.

The image and Anto dissolved in each other's minds. The boy still looked uncomfortable after his meeting with Christian. Especially when he found out if the person was a close friend of his adoptive brother.

Finally the rush was parked in the police parking lot. Citra invites Anto down, the entire office is surprised to see him with a small child.

“Commander! Commander!” Someone shouted from behind, it turned out to be Jaka.

He gasps for chasing after Citra from the parking lot. In her hand was a brown envelope. The envelope was thrust Jaka to Citra who received it with a surprised face.

“From Doctor Bara.” Jaka answered the astonished reaction of his commander. He did not realize that Citra was with a boy.

“Anto, you wait in the room there yeah, find Ipda Haris. Ask him to take you to brother's room.”

This little boy nodded happily, considering he aspired to be a police officer when he grew up. His feet half ran towards the direction Citra pointed at.

Despite growing up on the streets, Anto is very smart. Citra recalled, this boy once told a story if taught by the late Maryam Bu knew letters. Since then he began to learn to read little by little, until finally he began to devour every newspaper and also books he found in the garbage disposal.

“This is the visa of the three victims? Did Doctor Bara do a check-up?” Jaka just sniffed. In reality he was only asked to pass this envelope to the commander.

...----------------...

The floor of Citra's room was strewn with papers and photos of homeless cases she was handling. He feared there was something he had missed during the investigation. The rope that was used to tie and hang the victim was very eye-catching.

“He considers a vagrant a stray dog, Kak.” Anto suddenly appeared with a wide smile and surprised Citra. This kid has been cleaner since he's been with her.

Anto scratched his head. The face-face look showed guilt for surprising his adoptive brother. “Sorry, Brother. Anto had knocked on the door, but brother did not say. Since the door is open, Anto just enter.”

The image only smiled faintly and returned to concentration on the papers on that floor. He was a little interested in Anto's remark saying that his killers thought they were stray dogs. It turned out that this boy agreed with him, Haris and Jaka.

“By the way why do you think the killer thinks you're a stray dog?” Finally he could not help but curiously tone over this boy's words.

“Anto heard the guards' conversation themselves that their boss said they thought the tramp was ruining the scene like a stray dog. They do not deserve to have a hand because it is only used for begging.”

Stunned image. Is it just for that trivial reason that the perpetrator felt he had to clean up the homeless by killing him?

...****************...

Seriate....